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The relationship between education levels and divorce

Dec 13, 2019 | Divorce

Couples in West Virginia who have more education might be more likely to stay married than those who have less, according to several studies. This differs from the first part of the 20th century, when couples with more education had more resources and thus were more easily able to get a divorce. As laws changed to make divorce easier, it became more common among couples who had less education and fewer resources.

Women with a college degree have a 78% chance of a lasting marriage while those who have only a high school diploma have just a 40% chance. More education often means people get married later and are more financially stable when they marry. This is a widespread trend among millennials, who are bringing the divorce rate down.

However, overall, the divorce rate in the United States remains high, with the country in the third place overall. Less education, less financial stability and getting married younger all put additional strain on a marriage that can make the couple more vulnerable.

When a couple does get a divorce, they will need to either decide how to divide their property and what to do about child custody, if they have children, or they will need to go to court. For couples who have fewer assets, property division may be a fairly easy process. For those who own a home, a business, retirement others and other investments, dividing property may be more complex, but it is still possible to do this through negotiation. In child custody cases, judges make a decision that is in the best interests of the child. Parents who want to try to negotiate an agreement instead can use this same standard to guide their plan for custody.